Statewide AB 811 Pilot Program Information

Monterey County is considering a Property Assessed Clean Energy Program to finance energy efficiency improvements for residential and commercial buildings through a voluntary tax assessment.

This program can help our communities as we struggle to create job opportunities and meet the greenhouse gas reduction goals of AB 32. This program can be a true win-win for the region: increasing demand for green jobs, lowering energy and water costs to commercial and residential property owners, and producing ongoing, long-term reductions in greenhouse gases for years to come.

CaliforniaFIRST Program

This program allows each municipality in Monterey County to opt into a statewide financing program to be provided by the California Statewide Communities Development Authority (California Communities). As a statewide Joint Powers Authority, California Communities was authorized to provide this program pursuant to AB 811, the State of California's Clean Energy Municipal Financing Law signed into law last year. Monterey County is partnering with 12 other counties to apply for grant funding to pay for all the local agency start up costs for this program.

When all the program facets are complete, the program is intended to have minimal direct cost and no risk to participating cities and counties. The municipality participating in the CaliforniaFIRST Program receives the benefits of a statewide bond pool and centralized program administration. The program team will provide education, application processing, financing and customer service for property owners who choose to participate.

Burnett EcoEnergy is helping cities in Monterey County determine how best to proceed with the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program.